The shortlist for 2022’s Mercury Prize has been revealed, and includes albums from Harry Styles, Little Simz and Wet Leg.
This year’s ceremony for the prestigious award, which celebrates the best of British and Irish music, will take place on Sept. 8 at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith and feature live performances from many of the shortlisted artists. These are the 2022 Mercury Prize finalists:
- Fergus McCreadie, “Forest Floor”
- Gwenno, “Tresor”
- Harry Styles “Harry’s House”
- Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler “For All Our Days That Tear the Heart”
- Joy Crookes “Skin”
- Kojey Radical “Reason to Smile”
- Little Simz “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert”
- Nova Twins “Supernova”
- Sam Fender, “Seventeen Going Under,”
- Self Esteem, “Prioritise Pleasure”
- Wet Leg, “Wet Leg”
- Yard Act “The Overload”
A panel of independent judges, including musicians, songwriters, broadcasters and executives, selected the finalist. They included Anna Calvi (Annie MacManus), Hazel Wilde and Jamie Cullum, JamzSupernova, Jeff Smith and Jeff Smith.
“Getting down to 12 albums this year was not easy, simply because there were so many remarkable ones to choose from. That serves as proof that British and Irish music thrives during unsettled periods in history, with the albums chosen covering everything from imaginative pop to pioneering rap to Cornish language folk-rock,”In a statement, the judging panel stated. “We feel that these 12 amazing albums each have something to say artistically and socially, all in their own unique, enriching ways. Now comes the really hard part… choosing only one overall winner.”
BBC Music will broadcast coverage of the Mercury Prize Event on BBC TV, BBC Radio 6 Music Online and BBC TV.